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Old 03-30-2009, 12:37 PM
 
22 posts, read 97,319 times
Reputation: 21

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Folks:

Have enjoyed this forum for a few years as I've planned our relocation from Seattle to Austin. We arrived 10 days ago. Loving it. Here's a quick recap for others making the move.

Why: I've traveled to AUS about 15 times for work/pleasure. Finally convinced wife it is the place for us. I work remotely, so simply working a bit more remote. Two kids are 5 and 2.5 yrs. Wiff's a SAHM now.

House/Seattle: Sold in 2007. Didn't want to re-buy in bubble. Rented house in Sammamish. Knock-wood we didn't have to wait for sale.

House/Austin: Southwest, Circle C area. Leasing for a year to make sure we love area. Used a local realtor, highly recommended (please private message me for contact -- expert on SW area)

Mover: ABF Upack -- had a moving company in Seattle pack the truck (PM for contact -- good folks). 4 hours to pack. Used 18 feet of ABF truck. Entire move was roughly half the estimates from friend of the family in moving business.

Mover AUS: had a local company unload truck. Grreat experience. Half the time to unload as load (rule of thumb).

City-Data: goes without saying. Fountain of knowledge.

Yelp: highly recommended at both ends. Looking for services, checking Yelp first. More stars the better. (found our movers, car folks, restaurants, etc there)

Cable: We had an awful experience trying to get AT&T Uverse (after great reviews). Said it was available at our new house. Turns out it wasn't -- nobody told us until the DirectTV folks arrived to install dish ($120) and DSL guy installed modem. Would've gone with TimeWarner if I had it to do over (had Comcast service in SEA, loved it). Only bad experience so far.

Drivers License/Title: still working through this. Car computer won't talk to inspection stations. Had to visit Social Security office this morning to get copy of SocSec card (pain). Odd that SocSec will take passport as proof of citizenship, but TX won't. Not a huge deal so far.

Fitness: Wife found Lifetime Fitness. Nirvana. 3 pools (inside/outside). Massive workout facility. Huge kids area. A bit in awe of this place for the cost (comparatively -- we spent approx same in SEA for no pool, few amenities).

Costs: Housing, much less. Food, roughly the same (local HEB store is great). Insurance, similar, though car a bit more. Entertainment, more as we're exploring/out for meals more. Geek, all my favs are here Fry's, Costco, Staples -- costs about the same. Medical, about the same (insurance), though haven't seen doctor yet. Gas, cheap.

Lifestyle: Now for the 'soft stuff' -- kids have played outside more in 10 days than last 5 months in SEA. Swimming 6 times. In fact, waiting for a table at restaurants means more time playing in the sand (Hula Hut) or on the jungle gym (Waterloo). 1.5 hours in total -- all while mommy & daddy had adult beverages in hand(!).

Explored Zilker Park a bit yesterday in 75 degree weather. Wife said "this looks like the 'after' on a depression med commercial - everybody's out, smiling and exercising"

Don't get me wrong -- SEA is a fantastic city. I was born there and have been there last 29 years. It's gonna get gawd-awful-hot here -- where 52 degrees and rain will sound like heaven. But it 'shore is nice now.

Anywho, hope this helps any others who might be at or near moving time. Please feel free to PM if in need of more details.

- Stoop
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Old 03-30-2009, 12:58 PM
 
Location: Cypress, TX
587 posts, read 1,420,073 times
Reputation: 199
Thanks for the post - very helpful information for those of us with the move still ahead!
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Old 03-30-2009, 01:04 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,058,660 times
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How can you say groceries are the same? Where in Seattle were you living? We lived NE in city and our groceries at the HEB are about 20% less than we were paying at the QFC by our house. Safeway was a little better but still many many things are cheaper here than in Seattle.
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Old 03-30-2009, 01:05 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,058,660 times
Reputation: 1762
Oh and BTW, welcome to Austin!
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Old 03-30-2009, 01:58 PM
 
2,185 posts, read 6,433,493 times
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Welcome to Austin. I moved here from Redmond, WA 9 years ago. I wouldn't live any other place. You'll like it much better but will find that you hate the rain if it ever does rain. A lot of people on these boards dislike the transplants, but I welcome all of you. We live in Meridian near Circle C (ATT UVerse is offered here, not sure why it isn't in Circle C). Anyway, welcome, welcome!
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Old 03-30-2009, 02:47 PM
 
1,961 posts, read 6,123,590 times
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I have found groceries to be about the same as well. We shopped at Safeway, some stuff is cheaper some is more expensive.

My wife does miss the cheap flowers from washington.
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Old 03-30-2009, 02:51 PM
 
Location: 78747
3,202 posts, read 6,018,706 times
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Try Newflower Market at Manchacha and Cannon. It is relatively close to Circle C. Great deals, bohemian vibe.
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Old 03-30-2009, 03:38 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,058,660 times
Reputation: 1762
Quote:
Originally Posted by woodinvilleguy View Post
I have found groceries to be about the same as well. We shopped at Safeway, some stuff is cheaper some is more expensive.

My wife does miss the cheap flowers from washington.
Maybe groceries were cheaper in the Seattle suburbs but I am telling you having just moved, Ben and Jerrys was 4.99 up in Seattle and is 2.99 here. I can find cereal for $2.25 a box that was $4.75. HCF whole wheat bread can be had for $1.69 a loaf and store brand up there was well over $2. We keep records of everything we spend and our grocery bill is seriously about 20% less here.
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Old 03-30-2009, 03:49 PM
 
Location: Austin
2,522 posts, read 6,036,040 times
Reputation: 707
Will the last person to leave the Pacific Northwest please turn off the lights?.....Thank you....
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Old 03-30-2009, 04:13 PM
 
Location: Houston, Texas
106 posts, read 376,174 times
Reputation: 31
There's a flower shop on 35th st. near Seton hospital. Austin Flower Co. Good prices and selection. Located in an old gas station.
I love AT&T Uverse. They just began rolling out Uverse to areas. Alot of areas in Houston don't have it either. I hate that I'm going to have to go with Time Warner when we move back to the area since Uverse isn't offered in our neighborhood.
Glad you love it! It will get hot...go jump in a lake.
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